So the other day, I cam up with some sort of statistical meassurement tool, not sure if it hwelps with projections or equivalents or what just yet, but I kinda like it.

Anyway, I used this to see what would happen if I plugged in Justin Upton and Justin Smoak, as I have expressed both as good targets for different reasons. The resultsd were VERY surpising.

Upton was a miserable failure, with a .254BA, a .329OBP and 22HRs. Smoak was a little better, posting a .260BA / .340 OBP with 20HRs.

I was a little surpised upton did so poorly. He has never hit that low in his career. I think a lot of it has to do with his ability to just pummel ground balls past infielders, particualry down the lines, which I simply could not account for.

Smoak, whom I have repeatedly called the unluckiest hitter in MLB, ctually looks like a reasonable option. These are still Safeco-based numbers, and would obviously improve were he to actually get into a decent ballpark. As he does actually go the opposite way quite well from the left side, and pulls with very solid contact right-handed, I can think of one obvious fit.

Not that I would offer much for him. One of the excess catchers should suffice. Lavarnway or Salty for Smoak? Make it happen Ben!!

Assuming you get another hitter elsewhere, of course. And if it has to be a free agent, I stronglt suggest SWisher

He was the #11 pick, and ranked as high as #13 as a prospect. Since he is a SH, he shouldn't be subject to bad L/R splits. Sometimes Seattle is a good spot to look for hitters, since it depresses their stats.

Not that I would offer much for him. One of the excess catchers should suffice. Lavarnway or Salty for Smoak? Make it happen Ben!!

I suspect Seattle would not be interested in one year of Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who is projected to earn $3.9 million in 2013 after posting a WAR of 2.0 this year, when the Mariners have three years of John Jaso, who is projected to earn $1.7 million in 2013 after posting a WAR of 2.7 this year.

I doubt Seattle would be interested in 25-year-old Ryan Lavarnway when the Mariners have highly regarded 21-year-old catcher Mike Zunino and 22-year-old former top prospect Jesus Montero.

The valid reasons why the Red Sox could be interested in Justin Smoak are the same reasons why the Mariners are likely to retain Smoak.

Not that I would offer much for him. One of the excess catchers should suffice. Lavarnway or Salty for Smoak? Make it happen Ben!!

I suspect Seattle would not be interested in one year of Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who is projected to earn $3.9 million in 2013 after posting a WAR of 2.0 this year, when the Mariners have three years of John Jaso, who is projected to earn $1.7 million in 2013 after posting a WAR of 2.7 this year.

I doubt Seattle would be interested in 25-year-old Ryan Lavarnway when the Mariners have highly regarded 21-year-old catcher Mike Zunino and 22-year-old former top prospect Jesus Montero.

The valid reasons why the Red Sox could be interested in Justin Smoak are the same reasons why the Mariners are likely to retain Smoak.

At some point, you might want think the Mariners might want to make a change at a position or two. you might think the Mariners are clearly better than the Red Sox everywhere from MLB on down to low A ball, but the Red sox have been much better lately, and it took a complete firesale from Boston for the Mariners to catch up one time...

No doubt, Smoak's OBP has been depressed in Seattle. He's carried the Mariners this year, in what was an amazing season. The Mariners have 2 of the best young catching talents in baseball history. The Mariners want J. Upton and will offer to of the best prospects in baseball history. Folks, Hill knows his stuff. The Mariners have a ton of young talent, and that's been the case for the last 30 years.

Funny how you blame Fenway for our high ERA, even though when we won the rings it was much lower.

Now, you can't make the reverse judgement on the Mariners.They were 8th in runs scored on the road (and ahead of the Rangers).

At some point, you might want think the Mariners might want to make a change at a position or two. you might think the Mariners are clearly better than the Red Sox everywhere from MLB on down to low A ball, but the Red sox have been much better lately, and it took a complete firesale from Boston for the Mariners to catch up one time...

The Mariners no doubt "might want to make a change at a position or two," but Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Ryan Lavarnway are unlikely answers. The young Seattle club is interesting to follow just as the struggling Boston club is interesting to follow for different reasons. I have resisted the temptation to make a blanket prediction are which club will fare better going forward.

Red Sox fans should now understand that fans of a last-place club can have high hopes and aspirations for their team.

The Sox point up the difference between the brand and the product. The long-standing Red Sox brand received a tremendous boost with the club's on-field success from 2003 through about 2008. Fans continue to clutch that esteemed brand while the quality of the product has declined. The Sox may address the disparity between the well-regarded brand and the current product by improving the product line. The Sox have a wealth of resources, but I will be watching with great interest on how the Sox pursue that upgrading of their product.

At some point, you might want think the Mariners might want to make a change at a position or two. you might think the Mariners are clearly better than the Red Sox everywhere from MLB on down to low A ball, but the Red sox have been much better lately, and it took a complete firesale from Boston for the Mariners to catch up one time...

The Mariners no doubt "might want to make a change at a position or two," but Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Ryan Lavarnway are unlikely answers. The young Seattle club is interesting to follow just as the struggling Boston club is interesting to follow for different reasons. I have resisted the temptation to make a blanket prediction are which club will fare better going forward.

Red Sox fans should now understand that fans of a last-place club can have high hopes and aspirations for their team.

The Sox point up the difference between the brand and the product. The long-standing Red Sox brand received a tremendous boost with the club's on-field success from 2003 through about 2008. Fans continue to clutch that esteemed brand while the quality of the product has declined. The Sox may address the disparity between the well-regarded brand and the current product by improving the product line. The Sox have a wealth of resources, but I will be watching with great interest on how the Sox pursue that upgrading of their product.

Best wishes this offseason and beyond.

You too, Hill. You guys have a nice core of players, but limited resources.

At some point, you might want think the Mariners might want to make a change at a position or two. you might think the Mariners are clearly better than the Red Sox everywhere from MLB on down to low A ball, but the Red sox have been much better lately, and it took a complete firesale from Boston for the Mariners to catch up one time...

The Mariners no doubt "might want to make a change at a position or two," but Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Ryan Lavarnway are unlikely answers. The young Seattle club is interesting to follow just as the struggling Boston club is interesting to follow for different reasons. I have resisted the temptation to make a blanket prediction are which club will fare better going forward.

Red Sox fans should now understand that fans of a last-place club can have high hopes and aspirations for their team.

The Sox point up the difference between the brand and the product. The long-standing Red Sox brand received a tremendous boost with the club's on-field success from 2003 through about 2008. Fans continue to clutch that esteemed brand while the quality of the product has declined. The Sox may address the disparity between the well-regarded brand and the current product by improving the product line. The Sox have a wealth of resources, but I will be watching with great interest on how the Sox pursue that upgrading of their product.

Best wishes this offseason and beyond.

You are kind of acting like the Sox were perennially in last place. If they didn't dump ever one they would have probably 80 wins or so. This team is also committed to puting together as decent team this year the Mariners are committed to puting together a 25 man roster. As this point they are probably better off dumping Felix because they might not be good enough before it is too late f

You are kind of acting like the Sox were perennially in last place. If they didn't dump ever one they would have probably 80 wins or so. This team is also committed to puting together as decent team this year the Mariners are committed to puting together a 25 man roster. As this point they are probably better off dumping Felix because they might not be good enough before it is too late f

In fact, the Mariners have a "nice core of players" (meaningless phrase) every season. As for limited resources, the Mariners have spent a fortune for years, topped only by the largest marekt teams.The A's did well with limited resources, this season. The Mariners truly represent "wait until next year before this year even starts".

I don't see the Mariners "with limited resources," but their Opening Day payrolls have dropped as the club moved from a sad core of aging players to a promising core of young players. The rank of Seattle's Opening Day payroll among the 30 MLB teams: 2006 13th, 2007 7th, 2008 9th, 2009 10th, 2010 9th, 2011 16th and 2012 18th.

You are kind of
acting like the Sox were perennially in last place. If they didn't dump ever one they would have probably 80 wins or so. This team is also committed to puting together as decent team this year the Mariners are committed to puting together a 25 man roster. As this point they are probably better off dumping Felix because they might not be good enough before it is too late f

Some baseball teams can engineer quick turnarounds ... perhaps the Red Sox will be next.

How many of those player were important to the Sox being a winning team? The Sox assuming they sign a real first baseman and fill the holes outfield and everyone is healthy there is no way this team can't score runs. Crawford didn't perform well in Boston, Aviles was only here when the Sox stunk, Middlebrooks will be a better player than Youkilis, Papelbon was replaced by an All Star closer and the rest are easily replaceable. The Sox are only 3-4 players away from being a good team next year.

How many of those player were important to the Sox being a winning team? The Sox assuming they sign a real first baseman and fill the holes outfield and everyone is healthy there is no way this team can't score runs. Crawford didn't perform well in Boston, Aviles was only here when the Sox stunk, Middlebrooks will be a better player than Youkilis, Papelbon was replaced by an All Star closer and the rest are easily replaceable. The Sox are only 3-4 players away from being a good team next year.

How many of those player were important to the Sox being a winning team? The Sox assuming they sign a real first baseman and fill the holes outfield and everyone is healthy there is no way this team can't score runs. Crawford didn't perform well in Boston, Aviles was only here when the Sox stunk, Middlebrooks will be a better player than Youkilis, Papelbon was replaced by an All Star closer and the rest are easily replaceable. The Sox are only 3-4 players away from being a good team next year.

You are makin my point as Cornbread Maxwell would say. They have already upgraded from Youk. This will probably off set the lost of Gonzalez If they sign a laRoche or someone like that. I feel like if they bring in two outfielders they are going to be much more productive than what they had in 11. You have yet to prove that the holes in the offense are that bad. You are serverly discounting last years injuries and Bobby V two facts that really hurt the team in August and September. How about this if the Mariners finish with a better record I will set my avatar as the fan graph logo, if the Sox finish with a better record you don't post any of FG funny stats for a year.